SACA seeks Local Government partnerships

The South Australian Cricket Association today launched a program called’Cricket in the Community: a Social Vision’ to create strongerpartnerships between the State’s 25,000 cricketers and local government.SACA’s State Manager of Cricket and Redbacks Coach Greg Chappelllaunched the campaign today, saying that cricket was undergoingphenomenal growth, especially at junior level.’We’ve seen the number of junior players increase by about 60% in thepast seven years. Whole new clubs and associations are being formedevery season’, Greg said.’Two things come out of that. One is that there’s increasing pressure onthe need for facilities; and the other is that cricket has a grass-rootssocial infrastructure which has the potential to be a valuable asset forlocal government.’The program we are launching today aims at strengthening theunderstanding between cricket and councils. We both have a lot to learnabout each other and we can both benefit from that understanding.’Cricket has an increasing need for facilities; and in return, we canoffer local government a way to connect with the local community.’For example, Councils are, in effect, sponsors of cricket but theyrarely celebrate that sponsorship or use it to reach the local people.’The campaign SACA is launching today will operate at two levels:

• ‘The Association itself will take a leading role by seeking todevelop our relationship with the Local Government Association and theLocal Government Manager’s Association. We want to inform them of thefull impact of cricket, not just as a sport but as an important part ofthe social and community fabric. But we also want to learn more aboutLocal Government, so this will be a two-way process.
• ‘At a Club level, we have prepared a strategy and an action kitfor the Grade Clubs to follow, which will assist them in building anddeveloping partnerships with Councils. This is practical and hasoutcomes which we believe will benefit both parties. SACA will giveactive support to clubs in pursuing these activities throughout thecoming season, and will formally review the outcomes after the finals.

‘Cricket has an important community and social role. Our program isaimed firstly at ensuring Councils have a full understanding of thedepth and breadth of cricket in the community. The second phase involvesworking with Councils to develop partnership arrangements which aremutually beneficial to both cricket and local government, based oncommonalities of purpose and service to the community.’Cricket is more than a great game – it’s a social and communityresource which touches hundreds of thousands of South Australians atmany different levels. Our strategy in working more closely with localgovernment on a mutual basis has the full support of the AustralianCricket Board and will help ensure a positive future for the game inthis State’.